Good news and bad news.

 Posted by Tony Hutton

The good news for professional cricket watchers is that cricket got underway both at county and league level over the last weekend, with various friendlies going on. Unfortunately the three day game between Leeds/Bradford University and Yorkshire county cricket club lost the first day on Saturday due to a wet outfield, following quite a heavy snow fall earlier in the week. However for the dedicated enthusiasts relief was at hand, just across the road, where New Rover cricket club took on near neighbours Adel in a pre-season friendly.

New Rover batting with Adel in the field.

Here we were greeted by former Headingley groundsman, Keith Boyce, long time resident at the immaculate New Rover ground. Keith took pity on two elderly spectators by opening up the scorebox, so that we could watch in relative comfort protected from the cold wind. How to start your season in style was like watching cricket from the Royal Box!

The view from the 'Royal Box'.

The following day, with little change in the conditions, play did get underway at Weetwood with Yorkshire getting off to a poor start, losing both openers, Lyth and Hill, very quickly in the cool wind. So a wicket each for the University opening bowlers Sam Ellis, originally from Shropshire but now with Kent and Kurtis Watson from Lancashire. Malan and Brook, fresh from cricket around the world during the winter, both looked in good form and soon put Yorkshire well on top.

The season gets underway at Weetwood.

From 7-2 the score progressed to 104-3 when Malan was bowled by Ben Parker from Worcestershire for 46. Harry Brook continued on his merry way, watched as ever by his grandmother newly returned from watching in the West Indies, and completed his century with the aid of seventeen fours. He was almost immediately caught and bowled by Joe Pocklington, a left arm spinner from Sussex.

Harry Brook on his way to a century.

It continued to be hard work for the bowlers for the rest of the day as Will Fraine also completed a century with thirteen fours and two sixes, finishing on 122 not out, as with the help of 85 from Dom Bess he took the Yorkshire total to 402-7 at the end of the day.  Watson came back with two late wickets for the University, to finish with respectable figures of 3-59.

Winter headwear a necessity at Weetwood.

On Monday, when the conditions were even colder, only the hardiest of enthusiasts turned up to watch. It was here that we learned of the bad news. It was confirmed that the Yorkshire Academy team had been removed from the Yorkshire Premier League North, despite the fixtures having been published over two months ago, giving a full programme for them. These had already found their way into our diaries as they had for several other enthusiasts we spoke to.

No announcement from the new Yorkshire management team, but one can imagine that not only the Yorkshire League are none to pleased about this. The Academy have produced an endless flow of both county and Test cricketers over the last twenty odd years and for those of us who have enjoyed seeing them all develop, this is a complete kick in the teeth. If finance is one of the reasons behind this decision how odd it seems that a virtual procession of overseas signings continue to arrive at Headingley.

Nevertheless the game continues and interest surrounded the appearance of two sons of famous cricketers in the University ranks. First we saw Ibtasam ul Haq, son of none other the Inzaman ul Haq, who famously appeared briefly for Yorkshire in 2007, in similar wintry conditions at Scarborough. His son has recently come to Leeds University, but made only a fleeting appearance as opener before gloving a catch to Harry Duke from Thompson's bowling. Enter another son of a famous father in Josh de Caires, son of Mike Atherton, who made a century against Yorkshire last season.

Josh de Caries plays a straight bat, just like his father.

He again provided the backbone of the University batting with a fine 51, including seven fours and one huge six to the long mid-wicket boundary. His only real support came from wicketkeeper Tom Keast, brother of skipper Nick, with 35. The innings stuttered to the close with a total of 152-8. Thompson was the pick of the bowlers with 3-16, although Tom Loten picked up two cheap wickets near the end with 2-10. Good to see Ben Coad back in action and hopes are high that he will be fit enough for the first Championship game at Bristol on April 14th.

Good to see many friends and acquaintances, some of whom we had not seen since last season. However the overriding feeling was one of great disappointment that we will no longer be spending Saturday afternoons watching the Academy in action at Weetwood. A great shame all round.